Acetylene-generator.



No. 658,568. Patented Sept. 25, I960.

- A. MOSHER.

ACETYLENE GENERATOR.

IApylication filed Feb. 26, 1900. (No Model.) 2 Sheots-Sheet l.

E I in mum I I C y mmi/010 No. 658,568. Patented Sept. 25, I900. J. A.MOSHEB. ACETYLENE GENERATOR.

(Application filed Feb. 26, 1900.)

2 Sheets$haat 2.

(N0 Hadel.)

- located beneath the car-seat when in service ATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. MOSHER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE ADAMS WESTLAKECOMPANY, OF ILLINOIS.

ACETYLENE-G EN ERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,568, datedSeptember 25, 1900,

Application filed February 26, 1900- Serial No. 6,533. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. MOSHER, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene Generators, ofwhich the following is a specification, and which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The object of this invention is to provide a generator which may bereadily detached from the gas-distributing system and is especiallyadapted for service in street-cars.

The invention consists in the construction hereinafter fully described,and which is illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lis a side elevation of the generator, some parts being broken away. Fig.2 is a cross-section on the line 2 2 of Fig, 1. Fig. 3 is a plan sectionon the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a central vertical section throughone of the generating-cells. Fig. 5 is a detail section of a portion ofthe water-pipe, and Fig. 6 is a detail of the clamp used on the device.

In order to adapt an acetylene-generator for service in connection witha street-car, it is essential that the generator shall be simple andcompact, so that it may be readily stored in the car without occupyingspace available for other purposes, and that it be readily detachablefrom the gas-distributing system of pipes, so that it maybe removed fromthe car for cleansing and recharging.

The generator forming the subject of this application is so constructedthat it may be 16 fits within the top portion of this frame and restsupon instanding flanges 14. The water-tank is provided with afilling-nipple 17, and to the end plates of the frame may be secured abale, the ends of which are shown at 15, by means of which the device asa whole may be carried.

A plurality of generating-cells is preferably employed, and eachconsists of a jar-shaped cylinder 18, secured to the under face of thebottom 11 of the frame 10 by means of clamping-levers 20, each of whichis suspend ed from a link 21, depending from a block 22, resting innotches 23 in strengthening-ribs 24, formed on the upper face of thebottom of the frame 10. The toe of each of these levers 20 is adapted toengage under the rim or suitable lugs formed thereon of the jar 18, soas to draw the latter firmly againstthe seat provided forits edge in thebottom of the frame, the long arm of the lever being turned down againstthe side of the cell and moving a sufficient distance after the contactof the toe of the lever with the rim or the lugs thereof, so that thetoe is inclined outwardly and the resistance offered to it tends to holdthe lever in place. A gasket 19 is applied to this seat, so as to insurea tight joint. Within each of the jars 18 there is a wire basket 25,provided with feet 26 and side arms 27, by means of which it is elevatedfrom the bottom of the jar and spaced apart from the side walls thereof.This basket receives the carbid and is open on top, so that water may bedropped upon it from above. A water-pipe 28 leads downwardly from thetank 16 to apoint some what below the top of the cells and is thencarried upwardly, as shown at 29, above the bottom 11 of the frame, andwhen, as in the instance shown, a plurality of cells is employed thispipe is branched, as shown at 29 29", to lead to each cell and entersthe same through a connection 30, central as to the cell, within thelower end of which is fitted a screwplug 31, having a longitudinal duct32 of small diameter. At the lower end of the portion 29 of thewater-pipe there is provided a check-valve, so that in the event of anexcessive development of gas-pressure the gas cannot find its way backthrough the waterpipe into the tank. As a convenient form of suchcheckvalve I show a globe form of valvecasing 33, into which the end ofthe section 28 of the pipe projects, as shown at 34, a flexibleflap-valve 35 being secured to this end of the pipe, so that the watermay force its way past it, but any back pressure will instantly seat thevalve. A screw-plug 36 is fitted to the valve-casing'opposite the valve,serving asa means for adjusting'the valve as well as for cleaning thepipe system.

A gas-pipe leads upwardly from each generating-cell through the bottomof the frame 10, as shown at 37, connecting with a pipe 38, leadingbeyond the end of the device and adapted for attachment preferably by aleverclosed union-joint, as shown, with the distributing-pipe 39. Thisform of union-joint is of common construction and need not be fullydescribed. The pipe 38 is provided with a valve at 40, so that anydisagreeable odors may be avoided when the generator is detached fromthe distributing system. The water-pipe 28 is also provided with avalve, as shown at 41.

The operation of the generator is as follows: The tank 16 is filled withWater, the valve 41 being closed. The carbid-baskets are filled and thejars 18 are secured in place. The device as a whole being now located inposition for use and attached to the distributingpipe 39, the valves 41and are opened, the water finds its way to the cells through the pipes29* 29 and enters the cells through the ducts 31 in a small streamyacopious supply, however, being provided immediately back of the plug 31,so that it enters the cells with sufficient rapidity to set up rapidgeneration of gas. The gas of course fi nds its way through the pipes 3738 to the pipe 39, and if the supply is in excess of the requirementsthe prossure will check the flow of water through the duct 32. There isan ad vantage in carrying the water-pipes below the point of dischargeinto the cells, as the automatic regulation is more efficient when thegas-pressure may be applied to the upper surface of the water.

There is an advantage in using a plurality of generating-cells, asthereby the generation may be less rapid in each cell, and as a resultthe heat developed is less troublesome than when it is all developed ata single place, as is the case when but a single large generating-cellis used.

I claim as my invention- A portable acetylene-generator comprising aframe, a water-tank supported by the frame, a generating-cell cap fixedto the frame below the Water-tank, a cell in jar form, means fordetachably securing the cell to the cap, a reticulated carbid-basketWithin the cell and spaced apart therefrom at the top, bottom and sides,a water-pipe leading from the tank to the cell and entering the latterthrough the cap, such pipe extending below the cap intermediate of itsends, a check-valve in the depressed portion of the water-pipe,and agaspipe leading from the cell and being adapted for attachment to agas-distributing system.

PAUL CARPENTER, LoUIs K. GILLsoN.

